WINEMAKER NOTES
2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, USA
Vineyard Manager Michael Wolf:
After the blazing heat of 2017, the growing season of 2018 was one of the coolest in recent memory. Low rainfall year (45% below 2017), however much of the total rainfall occurred in March, filling the soil profile with water as the vines began to grow.
• Flowering in mid-May was accompanied by ideal weather, leading to very successful pollination and very large crop potential.
• 2018 was a mild summer, and this combined with the large crop stretched the length of the season, allowing ample time for complete ripening.
• Irrigation demand was low due to the mild conditions, and dehydration of the fruit was minimal, even with the extended ripening period.
• One of the biggest challenges was simple logistics of dealing with a large crop harvest at JJC began with the “Old Men” on September 24th and continued at a measured pace through October 15th, allowing each block to reach full ripeness on its own schedule.
Tasting Notes
Winemaker Celia Welch writes of the 2018 Scarecrow:
The 2018 growing season can best be summarized with the word moderation. Although the winter rainfall was much less than in the prior year, the rain gave our vineyards completely saturated soils as the vines began their grand period of growth in late spring. Likewise, summer’s moderate undulations of warming and cooling trends gave the ripening clusters a week of moderate stress followed by a week of recovery, then back through the cycle again. This slow, methodical ripening is immediately apparent when one tastes the resulting wine from this season.
The 2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon shows fully ripe aromas, vibrant and effusive, of blackberries on the vine, dusty cherries, and a sense of fresh earth. On the palate the wine broadens to express its Rutherford character with bright red and blue fruits as well as darker tones of mocha and vanilla. The tannins show polish and power in the same moment, offering a glimpse of the wine as it may evolve in the coming years and decades.
Harvested completely by hand at night, between September 24 through October 19, 2018, this wine is entirely grown on the J.J. Cohn Estate in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The berries were destemmed, optically sorted, and fermented in small batches. After approximately 24 days on skins the fruit was gently pressed and transferred to French Oak barrels, of which roughly 80% were new barrels. The juice was kept in these barrels for about 10 months, then assessed for quality before the first assemblage was created in summer 2019 and the blend was finalized in January 2020. After a total of approximately 22 months in French oak, the wine was bottled in late July 2020 without fining or filtration. A total of 1800 cases were produced.
Shipping Information
Domestic Shipping
We currently ship wine to eligible U.S. states where the shipment of alcohol is legally permitted. Orders are fulfilled via UPS or FedEx, so please plan according to the carrier's delivery schedule.
Orders placed Monday through Thursday before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time typically ship the same day. Orders placed after 2:00 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday will ship the following Monday.
Same-day delivery may be available within the Los Angeles Metro area if placed before noon. Please contact us at (626) 714-7006 to arrange expedited local service.
Packaging & Temperature-Sensitive Shipping
To protect wine quality, all orders are packed in EPS foam shippers, with gel packs when necessary.
Wine is temperature-sensitive and may be affected by excessive heat, freezing temperatures, or significant temperature fluctuations during transit. During periods of elevated temperature risk, we strongly recommend selecting Next Day Air service whenever available.
Customers requesting shipment during warm or cold weather conditions must review and agree to our Temperature Protection & Shipping Policy. By requesting shipment, customers acknowledge and accept the risks associated with temperature exposure, carrier delays, failed delivery attempts, and other transit-related conditions outside of Angry Wine Merchant's control.
For OWC (Original Wooden Case) orders, bottles are removed and shipped in foam for safety. The wooden case ships separately via Ground unless otherwise requested.
Weather Holds & Free Storage
In periods of extreme heat or cold, we reserve the right to delay shipment until safer conditions return. Customers may also request that we hold an order for future shipment.
We offer complimentary temperature-controlled storage for up to 6 months from the date of purchase. Select the "Hold for Weather" option at checkout and we will coordinate shipping at a later date.
Insurance
We provide free shipping insurance for loss or visible damage during transit, subject to carrier terms and conditions.
Shipping insurance does not cover deterioration in wine condition resulting from heat exposure, freezing temperatures, temperature fluctuations, carrier delays, missed delivery attempts, carrier holds, or other temperature-related transit conditions. Please review our Temperature Protection & Shipping Policy for more information.
Adult Signature Required
All shipments of alcohol require an adult signature (21+) upon delivery. Carriers will not release packages without adult authorization.
Customers are responsible for ensuring that an eligible adult is available to receive the shipment on the first delivery attempt. Additional charges may apply for re-delivery, redirection, failed delivery attempts, returned shipments, or reshipment.
Shipping Address Accuracy
Orders are shipped to the exact shipping address provided at checkout. Angry Wine Merchant is not responsible for errors or omissions in the address submitted by the customer.
If a package is delayed, returned, misdelivered, or requires rerouting due to incorrect or incomplete shipping details, the customer assumes full responsibility. Additional shipping fees may apply if reshipment is required. By placing an order, you confirm that the shipping address entered is correct and agree to these terms.
International Shipping
We do offer international shipping where legally allowed. For details, click here or contact us directly.
Complimentary Next Day Air Promotion
For a limited time, qualifying orders of $495 or more shipping within the continental United States are eligible for complimentary Next Day Air service. This promotion is automatically applied at checkout when eligibility requirements are met.
While Next Day Air service helps reduce transit time and weather-related risks, delivery dates are estimates provided by the carrier and are not guaranteed. Carrier delays, weather events, service interruptions, and other circumstances beyond our control may affect delivery timing. An adult signature is required for all wine shipments. Customers are responsible for ensuring that an adult of legal drinking age is available to receive the package on the first delivery attempt.
This promotional offer expires June 28, 2026, and may be modified or discontinued at any time.
States We Ship To
We ship to the following U.S. states:
Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY)
Shipping laws and carrier availability may change. If your state does not appear as an available shipping destination during checkout, we are unable to ship there at this time. Please contact us if you would like to confirm current eligibility.
2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, USA
Vineyard Manager Michael Wolf:
After the blazing heat of 2017, the growing season of 2018 was one of the coolest in recent memory. Low rainfall year (45% below 2017), however much of the total rainfall occurred in March, filling the soil profile with water as the vines began to grow.
• Flowering in mid-May was accompanied by ideal weather, leading to very successful pollination and very large crop potential.
• 2018 was a mild summer, and this combined with the large crop stretched the length of the season, allowing ample time for complete ripening.
• Irrigation demand was low due to the mild conditions, and dehydration of the fruit was minimal, even with the extended ripening period.
• One of the biggest challenges was simple logistics of dealing with a large crop harvest at JJC began with the “Old Men” on September 24th and continued at a measured pace through October 15th, allowing each block to reach full ripeness on its own schedule.
Tasting Notes
Winemaker Celia Welch writes of the 2018 Scarecrow:
The 2018 growing season can best be summarized with the word moderation. Although the winter rainfall was much less than in the prior year, the rain gave our vineyards completely saturated soils as the vines began their grand period of growth in late spring. Likewise, summer’s moderate undulations of warming and cooling trends gave the ripening clusters a week of moderate stress followed by a week of recovery, then back through the cycle again. This slow, methodical ripening is immediately apparent when one tastes the resulting wine from this season.
The 2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon shows fully ripe aromas, vibrant and effusive, of blackberries on the vine, dusty cherries, and a sense of fresh earth. On the palate the wine broadens to express its Rutherford character with bright red and blue fruits as well as darker tones of mocha and vanilla. The tannins show polish and power in the same moment, offering a glimpse of the wine as it may evolve in the coming years and decades.
Harvested completely by hand at night, between September 24 through October 19, 2018, this wine is entirely grown on the J.J. Cohn Estate in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The berries were destemmed, optically sorted, and fermented in small batches. After approximately 24 days on skins the fruit was gently pressed and transferred to French Oak barrels, of which roughly 80% were new barrels. The juice was kept in these barrels for about 10 months, then assessed for quality before the first assemblage was created in summer 2019 and the blend was finalized in January 2020. After a total of approximately 22 months in French oak, the wine was bottled in late July 2020 without fining or filtration. A total of 1800 cases were produced.
2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, USA
Vineyard Manager Michael Wolf:
After the blazing heat of 2017, the growing season of 2018 was one of the coolest in recent memory. Low rainfall year (45% below 2017), however much of the total rainfall occurred in March, filling the soil profile with water as the vines began to grow.
• Flowering in mid-May was accompanied by ideal weather, leading to very successful pollination and very large crop potential.
• 2018 was a mild summer, and this combined with the large crop stretched the length of the season, allowing ample time for complete ripening.
• Irrigation demand was low due to the mild conditions, and dehydration of the fruit was minimal, even with the extended ripening period.
• One of the biggest challenges was simple logistics of dealing with a large crop harvest at JJC began with the “Old Men” on September 24th and continued at a measured pace through October 15th, allowing each block to reach full ripeness on its own schedule.
Tasting Notes
Winemaker Celia Welch writes of the 2018 Scarecrow:
The 2018 growing season can best be summarized with the word moderation. Although the winter rainfall was much less than in the prior year, the rain gave our vineyards completely saturated soils as the vines began their grand period of growth in late spring. Likewise, summer’s moderate undulations of warming and cooling trends gave the ripening clusters a week of moderate stress followed by a week of recovery, then back through the cycle again. This slow, methodical ripening is immediately apparent when one tastes the resulting wine from this season.
The 2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon shows fully ripe aromas, vibrant and effusive, of blackberries on the vine, dusty cherries, and a sense of fresh earth. On the palate the wine broadens to express its Rutherford character with bright red and blue fruits as well as darker tones of mocha and vanilla. The tannins show polish and power in the same moment, offering a glimpse of the wine as it may evolve in the coming years and decades.
Harvested completely by hand at night, between September 24 through October 19, 2018, this wine is entirely grown on the J.J. Cohn Estate in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The berries were destemmed, optically sorted, and fermented in small batches. After approximately 24 days on skins the fruit was gently pressed and transferred to French Oak barrels, of which roughly 80% were new barrels. The juice was kept in these barrels for about 10 months, then assessed for quality before the first assemblage was created in summer 2019 and the blend was finalized in January 2020. After a total of approximately 22 months in French oak, the wine was bottled in late July 2020 without fining or filtration. A total of 1800 cases were produced.
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